Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-10-12

THE KLAMATH INDIANS
Msrriaxeabls Girls Sold 50 Auotion n ..
xlifornIa Reacrvation ISL
Slavery was supposed to b
abolished in the United States BY tho
verdict Of the late war, z said 8 pedAr
gogue to q reporter; but tile fact il
that outside Of the Chinese system Of
temporary bondage there is another
class of human merchandise which the
laws do not reach. The indi IN II 4
cestui que trust OF the Governments
and enjoying as he does the benefits Of
reservation and free supplies he should
be brought under the control Of the
Constitution. I have been teaching
school among the Indians, and speak
from what has fallen under my per-
sonal observation. You are aware that
there is q reservation located at tho
mouth Of the Klamath for the accommo-
datlon Of tribes living in Northern Cal
ifornia. but very few Of the Klamath
Indians are disposed to leave the white
settlements scattered along the river
and adjacent territory, where whisky
is easily obtained for the dry district
on the borders of the ocean,. Along
the Klamath, therefore, are q number
Of clans. speaking different dialects,
who have their own laws and enforce
them according to their own idea Of
Political and domestic economy. 5 <5..
'.Ihe squaws or Young women are
veudible commodities, and are put upon
the market at price supposed to corr
respond with their charms. Her choice
is not consulted in the matter, and if a
rivalry exists between bidders for her.
possession she is knocked down to
the most liberal offer. A maiden
Of comedy appearance, and having a
talent for plating hats, baskets and
other ornamental. wickerware, is, OF
course. more merchantable article
than her sister without accomplish
ments and without beauty. The price
paid for a girl of the desirable kind is
in the neighborhood of twelve red
headed woodpeckers, a broncho and q
breech-loading rifle, the woodpecker
heads being valued at g. apiece and
the pony and gun at about $40 each.
making the price of the girl about $40.
The amount varies, of course, accord
ing to the financial standing of the
purchaser and the avarice of the pa
rents. 1t occurs occasionally that as
much as $3.50 is given for girl, but she
would be possessed of unusual allure
ments.and the purchaser nabob.
+. THE lazy and oleaginous bucks,
when they have purchased a nominal
wife-for they do not consult the law
in respect to marriage-at once re-
quire their lady-loves to enter
upon all the hard work obtaina-
BILE. She, in fact. is re-
quired to neglect nothing which
might contribute to the comfort of her
lord who confines himself to an oeca-
sional hunting or fishing expedition
with the otiua, cum dtgnitate for which
the abort ginal American is celebrated.
The women pack wood from the forests
in baskets, which are carried on the
back and supported by a band which
encircles the forehead. They also coll
1ect gold-dust from the exposed bed
rock in the abandoned mines, which is
handed over to their consorts with re-
igious regularity. It is q fact that the
Indian women on the Klamath are abb
solute slaves, but they are faithful and
loving, no matter how harshly treated.
You can readily imagine, however,
that, on account of the hard life they
lead, by the time middle age is reached
they lose all feminine charms and be-
come hags. .-s.-- :. =.
Il suppose it is generally known
| that white men here purchased squaws
for matrimonial purposes, but it is not
generally known how happy such un-
ions are. White men who have es-
poused squaws almost invariably cling
to them through every yicissitude Of
life. Divorces are unknown among
them, and 'squaw mem take q pride
in boasting of the good qualities of
their purchases. = = =
$50 far as the California penal code
is considered in its application to the
Klamath Indians, it is a dead letter.
When an injury is supposed to have
been committed, the perpetrator is, by
common consent, considered the proper
prey Of the party injured. including
his relations, and ambuscades and as
ssssinations. naturally ensue. Dead
men tell no tales. and tho live ones
won't, 50 that investigation never
amounts to any thing.-San francesca
Examiner. @ LII .5.:..<i..
Fri GERMAN AGRICULTURE.
The Small H0Idlnns Into Which AerfcuIk..